Container with closure and closure puncturing dispensing spout



m v w Ewan a P. ALEXANDER CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE AND CLOSURE PUNC'TURING DISPENSING SPOUT Filed March 22, 1946 .P/Mp Affixamfir I IN VEN TOR Patented Feb. 7, 1950 CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE AND CLOSURE PUNCTURENG DISPENSING SEOUT Philip Alexander, New York, N. Y., assigncr to Brel llnc., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 656,237

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a liquid dispensing device, and more particularly to a device for spraying, atomizing or dispensing liquids under pressure from enclosed vessels or capsules.

Many products, such, for example, as perfumes, lubricants, lacquers, medicaments, fumigants and insecticides, are marketed in liquid form, for use in an atomizer or spray device. These may be packaged in small vessels or capsules in which the liquid, together with a compressed gas, is sealed. The gas provides a propellent when the container is opened. Even when purchased in quite small containers, often it is desirable to use only a small portion of the contents at one time by reason of the qualities of the particular liquid and the purpose for which it is intended.

The purpose of the present invention is the provision of a container and dispenser for use therewith, combining an inexpensive handy package that is small in size and a dispenser which can be left in position upon the container, where desired.

A further object is the provision of such a dispenser and container combination wherein the entire contents of a container need not be expended at one time, but may be used at intervals over a period of time, as needed, without wasting any of the remaining contents of the container or dissipating the propellent pressure.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a dispensing device having a discharge passage and orifice of such inside diameter as to provide the desired atomization or spraying, depending upon the viscosity of the fluid to be dispensed and the pressure of the propellent within the container.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing device that is simple and positive in operation, small in size, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to handle and practically indestructible.

In my copending applications of even date herewith, I have disclosed and claimed a novel form of container shown herein and also certain other dispensing devices for use therewith. Such other dispensing tubes are particularly applicable where for reasons of economy it may be desired to provide a single dispensing element which may be used with any of a number of capsules or containers, thus lowering the unit cost to the user. In certain cases, however, such as for example, in the dispensing of perfumes where the contents may last over periods of a year or more, it is desirable to provide a dispensing cap which may be afiixed to the container and remain therewith so that the same will not be lost, and the present invention is directed particularly to such form of container.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists in the various features otconstructi'on and combinations" of parts which be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation and central 1ongitudinal section of a device embodying the invention in a preferred form;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the dispensing action;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the manner of use of the device for downward spraying; and

Figure 4 is a view showing the manner of use of the device for upward spraying.

The container may be of any desired size, but

' will normally be a relatively small metal capsule, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4. Such container has a neck portion formed with a shoulder or seat which receives a soft, resilient plastic sealing element a of rubber, artificial rubber or like material. The sealing element a is held within the neck of the container by a flange formed on the plunger housing element 1", the upper edge or rim of the container neck being turned over this flange so as to compress the sealing element a. into sealing relation with the inner surface of the neck of the container. A plunger element s containing a piercing and dispensing tube c rides within the housing 1', being maintained in alinement therewith by its enlarged lower end and by its tubular shank portion fitting within an inwardly turned annular flange at the upper end of the housing 1. The plunger element s contains a piercing tube 0. the lower end of which is sharpened so as to readily puncture the sealing element a and the upper end b of which forms the discharge orifice. The plunger s and piercing tube 0 may be constructed and assembled together according to the disclosure of my copending applications, above referred to. Such features of construction, however, iorm no part of the present invention.

The plunger s is urged upwardly by a spring t, as shown in Figure 1, and may be pressed downwardly by the thumb or finger as shown in Figure 2 so as to cause the piercing tube or needle 0 to puncture the sealing element a so as to spray as indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Where liquids are being dispensed, the container is held in inverted position as indicated in Figures 3 and 4 so as to prevent waste of the propellent gas which maintains the atomizing or spraying pressure.

As described in my copending applications, the inwardly domed sealing element a is self-sealing so that when the spring t is permitted to return the plunger s to the position of Figure 1, retracting the needle or piercing tube 0, the sealing element closes the opening formed by the tube c and prevents waste of the contents.

In tubes of the present character, compactness of construction is of considerable importance, and it will be noted that the combination of the plunger dispensing device 8 with a sealing element having a concave upper surface materially decreases the distance by which the plunger 8 must extend beyond the neck of the container. While it is preferred to assemble the parts as indicated in the figures, a removable dispensing plunger assembly may be provided, where desired. In such case, the housing r may be attached to the container by screw threading the same thereon or in any other convenient manner.

What is claimed is:

In a device for dispensing fluids under pressure, and in combination, a container having a neck with a discharge opening therein, a shoulder formed in said opening, a soft resilient plastic self-sealing element in said discharge opening, and a dispensing device comprising a manually operable slidable member having a discharge orifice and a tubular piercing element adapted to penetrate said sealing element to connect the interior of said container to said orifice, a housing for said slidable member having a peripheral flange, said flange and said sealing element being held in compressing relation to each other and to said shoulder by the turned in rim of the neck of said container, and a spring in said housing for urging said slidable member to retract said piercing element from said sealing element.

PHILIP ALEXANDER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Adams Apr. 19, 1938 Number 

